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Canada has secured their place as the 13th team to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. This milestone was achieved after a commanding seven-wicket victory over the Bahamas in the Americas regional qualifying finals held in Ontario. The win capped off a flawless campaign for Canada, marking their fifth consecutive triumph in the four-team tournament that also featured Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. This qualification marks Canada’s second appearance at a T20 World Cup, having previously qualified for the 2024 edition through the same route.
Canada’s unstoppable qualifying campaign
Playing on home turf without the presence of the already-qualified USA, Canada entered the Americas Qualifier as clear favourites and lived up to expectations with dominant performances throughout the tournament. Their victories were emphatic, including a 110-run demolition of Bermuda, a 59-run win over the Cayman Islands, a ten-wicket thrashing of the Bahamas in an earlier encounter, and a 42-run win in a rain-affected second match against the Cayman Islands. The final game against the Bahamas saw Canada bowl out the opposition for a mere 57 runs, with Kaleem Sana and Shivam Sharma each claiming three wickets, and Ansh Patel contributing with economical bowling figures. The Canadian batters then swiftly chased down the target in just 5.3 overs, led by Dilpreet Bajwa’s unbeaten 36 off 14 balls, underlining the team’s all-around strength and readiness for the global stage.
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Canada’s prospects at the 2026 T20 World Cup
With their qualification secured, Canada joins a strong field of already qualified teams including hosts India and Sri Lanka, England, and cricket powerhouses such as Australia, Pakistan, South Africa, and New Zealand.
Seven more teams will qualify through upcoming regional tournaments in Europe, Africa, and Asia-East Asia Pacific. Canada’s steady rise in T20 cricket, highlighted by their previous World Cup appearance in 2024 and their commanding regional performances, positions them as a team to watch in the 2026 tournament. Led by Nicholas Kirton, the Canadian squad has demonstrated a balanced mix of potent bowling and explosive batting, which could see them make a significant impact on the world stage next year.
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